The Martin Experience

About Guest Performer and Clinician Richard Starkey:

Guitarist and singer Richard Starkey has long been considered one of the best lead and flatpicking guitar players in the Northeast. Richard’s style was influenced by many great pickers, but it is evident in his playing that his favorites were Doc Watson & Clarence White.

His musical career includes concert performances with Bill Monroe, Peter Rowan, The Newgrass Revival, Vassar Clements, David Grier, Kenny Smith and Roland White. He has also performed and recorded with Rounder recording artist Skip Gorman and “Rabbit in a Log.” In 1999 Richard released a flatpicking duet CD tilted “Delaware Crossing” with National Flatpicking Champ Mark Cosgrove, available on the “Noisy Neighbor Label.” He is currently playing guitar and singing with some of the finest acts in Nashville. Richard is also busy repairing & setting up instruments in his warranty repair shop in Franklin Tennessee on the outskirts of Nashville.
Richard worked as the resident player, technician and guitar setup expert at the world famous C. F. Martin guitar company for over 8 years. At Martin Richard worked in several areas, among them production, repair and artist relations, including setting up guitars for many of the celebrity recording artists that play Martin guitars. He has been actively involved with stringed instrument making and repair for more than 30 years. His clinics include a historical overview of the Martin Guitar Company throughout its 176 year lifetime, a video tour of the Martin plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and lots of acoustic guitar picking and singing in a wide range of styles. A relaxed and informal entertainer, Starkey is capable of answering just about any question posed on the history, construction and sound of the “C.F. Martin” guitar.